How to Make a Yarn Doll for Kids

A completed yarn doll

Creating a doll is a quick, entertaining and inexpensive craft. A handcrafted doll, such as the yarn doll in this article, is formed from leftover pieces of cloth, buttons, string and other craft materials. A yarn doll design can be customized for children of any age and can also be created in a group setting. A yarn doll can also be crafted in as short as 20 to 30 minutes, making it an ideal project to attempt during a Girl Scouts troop meeting or Sunday school class. Kids will have a great time making their own one-of-a-kind doll.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Yarn
• Ruler or tape measure
• Small ball
• Craft glue
• Scissors
• Buttons
• Small pieces of cloth, felt, string or ribbon

1. 

   Cut the yarn into 18-inch pieces. Make a total of 100 yarn strips. It may be necessary to double the strand amount if using a very thin yarn or string. The yarn should be enough to completely cover the Styrofoam ball and form the limbs and body of the yarn doll.

2. 

   Find the center of the yarn bunch and tie the strips together with a piece of yarn of the same color. This will be the top of the yarn doll's head when the project is finished.

3. 

   Place a small ball underneath the center of the yarn strands, where the tie was created. The ball may be made from plastic, Styrofoam, yarn or any lightweight material. Pull all the pieces of yarn down around the ball to form the head. Arrange the yarn strands until the ball is no longer visible. Tie another piece of yarn to the bottom of the head to form the neck.

4. 

   Lay out the yarn doll on a table or other flat surface to section off the arms, legs and waist. Directly below the doll's neck, create a 25-strand segment for each arm. Using a different colored yarn or ribbon, tie a bow at the tip of each arm to form the hand. Fashion a waist for the doll by drawing together all the strands of yarn below the arms and tying it off 2 inches down from the neck. Create the yarn doll's legs by separating the remaining yarn below the waist into two equal parts. They should each be a section of 25 yarn strands. Tie them with yarn or ribbon at the tip of the legs.

5. 

   Decorate the doll's face and body with the buttons and material remnants. Use a durable craft or fabric glue to attach pieces to the yarn doll. To create the yarn doll's eyes, glue two matching buttons in the center of the head. Fashion a nose and mouth from small pieces of felt or cloth and then glue them in place to complete the doll's face. Make hair for the yarn doll by attaching small sections of yarn or cord in any desired hairstyle. Be sure to use a different color than the yarn used for the doll's body.

6. 

   Add finishing touches, if desired, to the yarn doll by cutting small trimmings from material remnants. To add character to the doll, try fashioning a small dress, hat, bow-tie, scarf or other fashion accessory. Attach the embellishments with fabric glue.

Tips & Warnings

• If the yarn doll is a project for a younger child or group of children, speed up the process by cutting the yarn strands in advance.

• Avoid using a heavy or weighted ball or round object as the head. It will make the doll top-heavy.